aquagenic pruritus

Etiology

• polycythemia vera

Epidemiology

• up to 68% of patients with polycythemia vera

Pathology

• may involve mast cell degranulation

Clinical manifestations

• may precede diagnosis of polycythemia vera by several years
• intense itching, stinging, tingling or burning of the skin after contact with water
  • pruritus starts < 10 minutes after contact with water
• in most cases, warm water causes worse symptoms than cold water
• no visible changes in skin
• most common affects chest, back, medial arms, ventral legs

More general terms

• pruritus (itching)